New research shows that people with lower IQs are more likely to be unhappy

A study published in the journal of Psychological Medicine revealed that people in the lowest IQ range of 77-99 reported the lowest levels of happiness compared to those in the highest IQ range of 120 to 129.

Researchers from the University College London analyzed the data of 6,870 participants in a 2007 survey that measured IQ and asked participants to rate their happiness on a three-point scale of “very happy,” “fairly happy” and “not too happy.”

The highest proportion of those who said they were “not too happy” was in the lowest IQ range, BBC reported. The highest proportion of those who said they were “very happy,” 43 percent, was in the highest IQ range.

The researchers found that a lower IQ was linked with lower income and poor mental health, both of which contributed to the lower levels of happiness. Because of the results, the study’s researchers are pushing for interventions for young children that could help not only increase IQ but also the other factors that ultimately lead to higher levels of happiness.

“Such interventions are likely to be costly, but the initial costs may be offset by future benefits such as a reduced reliance on state benefits and better mental and physical health,” Angela Hassiotis, one of the study’s researchers, told BBC.